Outside Attacks

Internet users are starting to realize the severity of these attacks. In the past eight years, the CSI has found that people are more aware of attacks happening, rather than being in denial. The following types of attacks have been recognized in the wide spectrum of cyber crime.

Unauthorized Intrusion

Networks that are not 100 percent protected are prime targets for external intrusion. Between 380 and 500 Web page hacks occur every week at small Web sites; whereas, on larger sites, the magnitude is greater. The New York Times Web site was recently brought down for 12 hours and then vandalized. Information that is tampered with leads to financial losses, service disruptions for a company’s site, and potentially irreparable damage to the corporate brand.

Service Denial

Similar to unauthorized intrusion, malicious denial of service also results in the loss of revenue and reputation. Big name Internet companies, such as Hotmail, Yahoo!, and Amazon.com, recently experienced denial-of-service (DoS) attacks. Hotmail’s site shut down for six consecutive days, not only preventing seven million users from accessing it, but also scarring the reputation of Hotmail.

Malicious Downloads

The “Email Bomb,” including the I LOVEYOU and Melissa viruses, have plagued e-mail addresses. More recently, Microsoft’s computer system was hacked by a Trojan horse called QAZ, due to a few machines being unprotected. Security experts confirm that “this is all it takes” and are hoping for this to be a lesson for other companies to keep their antivirus software updated and educate their employees on good security practices.